Railroad-spike



(No Model.)

J. H. MORGAN.

RAILROAD SPIKE.

No. 371,471. Patented Oct. 11,1887.

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PATENT JAMES H. MORGAN, OF BRUNSW'ICK, MISSOURI.

RAILROAD-SPIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,471, dated October11, 1887.

. Application filed Jilly 1, 1887. Serial No. $13,113. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. MonoAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brunswick,'in the county of Chariton and State of Missouri,have invented a new and useful Improvementin RailroadSpikes, of whichthe followingis a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in railroad-spikes; and itconsists in the construction and arrangement of theparts of the same,which will be more fully hereinafter described, and clearly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like letters of reference indicatesimilar parts in the several views, Figure l is a perspective view of myimproved railroad-spike. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is atransverse vertical section on the line or x of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a rearelevation of the spike.

A indicates the-body of the spike, and B the head. 0 indicates thechisel-point which is formed therewith, and D the enlargement formedimmediately under the head B.

.The front and rear sides of the said spike are provided withsemicircular grooves E E, which form the cutting-edges with the sidefaces of thesaid spike. The said groovesEEeXteud from the enlargedportion D, adjacent to the head B, down to the chisel-point G. Theenlargement D extends upward to the head B from said grooves E, bothfrom the front and the rear sides of the spike. The enlargementextending from the upper end of the rear groove E is gradual toward thehead B, while the front side of said enlargement is abruptly formed withthe groove E adjacent thereto. The rear side of the enlargement D isgradually inclined from the groove E upwardly and running into the rearportion of the head B. The front portion of the enlargement D extendsdownwardly from the under projecting portion of the head B in a truevertical plane for ashort distance, and thence is formed with a shortabrupt inclination, which enters the groove in proximity thereto.

In driving my improved spike into wood the chisel-point separates thefiber without cutting the same, and the cutting-edges formed by thegrooves E pass into the wood, forming convex cuts, the wood of whichiills the groove E. This action of the spike in the separation of thewood forms an opening for the entrance of the enlargement D, whichprovides a means of securing the said spike. in connection with the woodinto which it is driven.

The novelty and utility of my improved device being obviously apparentand appreciable, it is unnecessary to further enlarge upon the sameherein.

Having described my invention, whatIclaim as new is 1. As an improvedarticle of manufacture, a railroadspike having an enlargement, D, formedimmediately under the head, the rear side of which is graduallyinclined, while the front side thereof is formed with a vertical surfaceand a short abrupt incline, said rear and front side of the enlargedportion running into semicircular grooves E, which form outting cdgeswith the sides of the spike and terminate in a chisel-point, O,substantially as described.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a railroad-spike having thechiselpoint O, the semicircular grooves E in the front and rear sidesextending from the chisel-point nearly to the head, and the enlargementD between the upper ends of the grooves and the head of the spike, thesaid enlargement being located on the front and rear sides of the spikecorresponding with the grooves, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Ihave hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. MORGAN.

Witnesses:

E. A. BOWMAN, J. D. HIGNIGHT.

